Bizen Tokkuri

This is a Bizen sake flask by Rokuro Nakamura, a master craftsman who took pride in Bizen ware and was celebrated as a god of sake vessel making. It is a triangular flask that offers a different aesthetic appeal on each side. The piece never ceases to fascinate, with one side displaying the deep, rich scarlet hue characteristic of the Nakamura family, another featuring "goma" (ash glaze) and "sangiri" (fire-marked) effects, and a third adorned with a vertical collection of fine "tobi-goma" (splashed ash) grains. With its well-balanced proportions and stability, it is a high-quality piece typical of Nakamura's work. (Please note that this is a slightly older work, though it shows little sign of use.) Original signed box (shiho-zan style)
Rim 3.7cm × Body diameter 8.7cm × Body diameter 8.7cm × Height 12.4cm Capacity approx. 350cc Rokuro Nakamura worked as a company employee until the end of the war, after which he studied under Living National Treasure Toyo Kaneshige in 1945 to hone his skills, eventually establishing his own Rokuro Kiln in 1961. He preferred creating sake vessels like flasks on the potter's wheel, while also producing "tatara" (slab-built) works such as "hobin" teapots, kyusu, and tea bowls. Known for his simple, rustic, and wild style, he placed great importance on the firing process inherent to unglazed stoneware and devoted significant effort to kiln loading, which he believed determined the quality of his work. He was recognized as a traditional craftsman in 1986, the same year he received the Okayama Nichinichi Shimbun Award, and in 1989, he was awarded the Order of the Blue Paulownia Leaves in the Spring Decorations. He passed away in April 2004.